A universal female receiver for miniature lamp bases

ABSTRACT

A universal female receiver having a flexible body and including a slotted internal surface. The receiver thus is adapted to receive miniature lamp bases without regard to their configuration.

{mite taies atet Johnson et al.

A UNIVERSAL FEMALE RECEIVER FOR MINIATURE LAMP BASES Inventors: WallaceF. Johnson, 7560-A North Charles; William H. Tilson, 1287 West Shaw,both of Fresno, Calif.

Filed: Oct. 26, 1970 Appl. No.: 84,241

Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 763,148, Sept. 27,1968, Pat. No. 3,576,990.

11.5. C1 .339/59 L, 339/220 L Int. Cl. ..H01r 13/12 Field of Search339/59-61,l53,154,177,182,183,199,

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 804,519 11/1958 Great Britain ..339/183830,694 3/1960 Great Britain ..339/59 L Primary Examiner-Joseph H.McGlynn Att0rney-Huebnet & Worrel [57] ABSTRACT A universal femalereceiver having a flexible body and including a slotted internalsurface. The receiver thus is adapted to receive miniature lamp baseswithout regard to their configuration.

1 Claim, 9 Drawing Figures Patented April 24, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet lPatented April 24, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Theinvention relates to lighting systems and more particularly to auniversal female receiver adapted for use in a lighting system for usein providing decorative lighting for walls, center pieces, floralarrays, and the like.

The prior art includes a myriad of electrical lighting systems employedin ornamental schemes and decorative devices. Many of these systems areof a portable nature, and are employed to provide a desired lightingeffect under given conditions. However, one of the existing problemsencountered in decorative lighting is a lack of systems which aretotally portable and yet do not require open flames or extendedelectrical connections.

Systems which employ open flames are not suited for use in certainareas, particularly where an open flame is considered a fire hazard.

By the same token, lighting systems which employ electrical energy as ameans for simulating a live or open flame have not met existing needs,simply because a plurality of extended electrical leads are normallyrequired. Further, where batteries have been employed as a source ofelectrical energy for imparting the preferred portability, miniaturelamps have been required as the source of light. In the use of miniaturelamps, with batteries of a given voltage, consideration must be given tothe expected life span of the lamp, due to the life factor of thefilament employed, and to the output desired for achieving a givenasthetic effect. For example, assuming that with a normally fixed powersource of 2.5 volts, an output of 0.12 candle power is desired for acontinuous period of 14 hours, a selected lamp, for conveniencedesignated X-48, characterized by 0.06 amps-screw thread base may beemployed. However, assuming that a new system requirement of 0.300candle power for a life of 7 hours is imposed, a new lamp must beemployed. As a practical matter, only a relatively few combinations oflife spans and output factors are possible for commercially availablelamps having a standardized base configuration, that is, any one of thetypes commonly referred to as the flanged, screw-threaded and bayonettypes. However, when given the total number of types, presentlycommercially available, with the possible combinations for each type, aneconomic supply of readily available lamps exists. Therefore, as theoperative requirements are varied for systems heretofore employed,different sockets or receivers, have been required, as each miniaturelamp employed required a receiver which accommodated a change to thetype of lamp being employed. This requirement, of course, is undesired.

The same lack of versatility is present in existing lamp enclosuresnormally employed as decorative caps, since the size and shape of theglobes normally vary with each type of miniature lamp employed.Consequently, a complexity factor exists for those systems whichheretofore utilized miniature lamps as the source of light. Furthermore,where the lights are employed in center pieces or floral arrays, it hasbeen found ditficult to provide means for connecting a power source atselected locations within the circuit in order to protect the astheticproperties of the display.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention overcomes the aforementioneddifficulties through the use of an improved system including a pluralityof novel circuit components which serve to impart universatility to thesystem, whereby the system may be readily employed in numerous types ofdecorative lighting schemes requiring universatility andinterchangeability, in order to provide the desired lighting effect.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improvedlighting system.

Another object is to provide an improved completely portable lightingsystem for use in ornamental lighting.

Another object is to provide a lighting circuit including a plurality ofuniversal circuit components imparting a high degree of versatility toan ornamental lighting system.

Another object is to provide simplified electrical connectors.

Another object is to provide a power pack capable of being readilyinserted into a circuit.

Another object is to provide a highly versatile circuit which includes aplurality of circuit components and interchangeable members, theversatility of which serves I to enhance decorative lighting.

These together with other objects and advantages will become morereadily apparent by reference to the following description and claims inlight of the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned, explodedperspective view of a system, including female receivers, embodying theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially sectioned view of the system shown in FIG. 1, withthe components thereof assembled in an operative relationship.

FIG. 3 is a sectioned view of one of the system components shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view taken on line 4- 4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional plan view taken on line 5- 5 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a sectional perspective of a female receiver illustrated inFIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the assembly shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a cross-section taken on line 8-8 in FIG. 2 on an enlargedscale.

FIG. 9 is a partially sectioned view of the male connector.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A system employing theprinciples of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 having aportable voltage source or power pack 10 and a plurality of candles 12interconnected through a parallel circuit 14, which serves to directelectrical current from the power pack 10 to the individual candles l2.

The power pack includes an insulated casing 16 which is of a tubularconfiguration and receives therein a plurality of nickel-cadmium orother suitable batteries 17. The batteries are disposed in concentricrelationship with respect to the housing 16 and are sealed therein bymeans of a suitable screw-threaded cap 18. The batteries 17 are of thetype which, for the sake of convenience, can be described as having acoaxially disposed positive pole 19.

Mounted on the casing l6, in coaxial alignment with the positive pole 19is a male connector 20 which, in operation, is operatively disposedwithin one of a plurality of universal, cup-shaped female connectors orreceivers 22. These receivers are connected with the circuit 14 and areadapted to receive the connector 20, in order that the batteries 17 maybe electrically connected with the circuit. As better shown to FIG. 9,each connector 20 includes positive terminal or contact 26 supported ina body of insulating material 28. The contact is substantiallycircumscribed by a negative or tubular contact 30 which terminates in alaterally extended, annular flange 31. The positive contact 26 alsoincludes an elongated body or post 32 extending through the material 28and retained in operative disposition therein by means of any suitableconnector, such as a simple nut and washer 34. In practice, the nut andwasher also serve as a contact for electrically engaging the positivepole of an associated battery 17.

In order that the male connector 20 may serve to complete a circuit toopposite sides of the batteries 17, a conductor 26, formed of a copperstrip, is soldered to the flange 31 of contact 30 and extends intoengagement with a negative pole or contact 37, as normally provided forthe batteries 17. While the strip 36 could be so arranged as to engage anegative contact provided at the opposite end of each battery 17, thebatteries presently employed are such as to provide a negative contactin radial disposition with respect to the positive terminal.

Various means may be employed for seating the male connector 20 withinthe end of the casing 16. However, it is preferred that a shoulder 38 beincluded within the casing against which the flange 31 of the contact 30is operatively seated. In order that the male connector 20 may beretained in a position against the shoulder 38, a suitable compressionspring 40, FIG. 8, is employed to force the flange 31 against theshoulder 38. This spring is electrically conductive and serves to couplethe contract 34 with the battery 17 at its positive terminal 19.

It is to be particularly noted that all of the female receivers 22 areof a common design, and in addition to serving as a connector for thepower pack it) serve as receivers or lamp sockets for receivingminiature lamps 42, FIG. 3. Each of the female receivers is of acupshaped configuration and is fabricated from a flexible polyethylene,or like material, which has non-conductive properties and whichaccommodates a radial expansion and contraction of the receiver. Theresiliency of the material employed is preferably sutficient forpermitting a lamp base of a lamp 42 to be received therein through itsopen top.

Bases of a general cylindrical configuration, including thescrew-threaded bases, can be slidingly received in engagement with theinternal surfaces of the receiver or connector 22. Each base is grippedor frictionally engaged in a manner sufficient to retain the base in itsoperative position. Insertion of a lamp base including bayonets, orlaterally extended pins, is accommodated through the use ofdiametrically opposed, elongated slots 46 which are cut into theinternal surfaces of the connector and parallel its longitudinal axis.Since the base for miniature lamps normally employed are ofapproximately the same diameter, and since the material from which thereceiver 22 is fabricated is of a resilient nature, the base of each ofthe employed lamps may be readily inserted Within the receiver,regardless of its configuration, and is readily interchangeable withbases having a different configuration.

In order that the male connector 20 be permitted to be electricallycoupled wiflr the receivers 22, the connector is provided with anoutside diameter approximately equal to the outside diameter of a baseof a miniature lamp 42. Hence, it should be readily apparent that themale connector 20 may be inserted at any appropriate point within thecircuit 14.

Each receiver or female connector 22 further includes a conductor strip48 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the receiver 22, forcompleting a circuit to the negative terminal 37 of batteries 17. Inpractice, the strip 48 is of a generally flexible material, however, inorder to seat the strip within the connector, it is crirnped to providea crimped protrusion 50 which operatively seats against a bottom wallportion 51, as is normally provided for the female connector. Anadditional protrusion 52 is formed in the strip which serves to engagethe external surfaces of the bottom wall 51. Hence, the strip 48 isretained in an operative disposition within the connector 22 through acooperative effect of the protrusions 50 and 52. In order that the strip48 may be properly retained in its operative disposition at its oppositeend, an additional locking crimp 54 is provided for engaging the opposedinternal an external surfaces of the receiver near its open end.

Mounted in coaxial alignment within the receiver 22,

there is a positive terminal 56 which is supported by the wall 51. Thepost 56 includes a radially extended flange or shoulder 58 disposed inoperative supporting engagementwith the internal surface of the wall 51and further includes an elongated coaxially aligned post portion 60extending through the wall. In practice, a spring 62 is seated incoaxial alignment with the flange and is provided to engage a positivepole of a lamp base or male connector inserted therewithin in order tocomplete the circuit between the post 60 and the inserted positiveterminal.

Each receiver 22 is, in turn, seated in concentric relationship within acap 24, as hereinbefore mentioned. Each cap includes a tubular internalsurface 64, FIG. 8, and an external terminal portion having a truncatedfrusto-conical surface 66 terminating in an annular base or supportingshoulder 68. The shoulder 68 defines the supporting end terminal surfaceof the terminal portion. In order that the cap 24 may be mounted in asuitable support, a mounting portion having a surface 70 is extendedaway from the shoulder 68, in a portion of each of the caps 24 furtherincludes, at its truncated surface, an annular lip 74 which serves as aretainer for engaging an end surface of the wall of the femaleconnectors 22 for retaining them therein, while allowing the base of alamp or a male connector to be inserted concentrically therethrough.Furthermore, each of the caps 24 is provided with an elongated slottedkey-way 76. The key-way serves to receive the crimped portion 54 of theconductor strip 48 as the connector is seated against the lip 74. Hence,it will be appreciated that once the receiver 22 is inserted within thecap 24, any relative rotation therebetween is impeded through engagementof the surfaces of the keyway 76 with the crimped portion 54 of theconductor strip 48. in practice, a locking ring 78 is provided formaintaining the required engagement of the receiver with the lip 74.

As a practical matter, the opening 72 may be formed in any suitablestructure for operatively supporting the caps 24. However, for purposesof illustration, a supporting structure 80 is provided as a mountingmember for supporting the components of the herein described lightingsystem. Hence, the assembled cap 24 and receiver 22 may be readilymounted, simply by inserting the mounting portion within a suitableopening 72 formed within the supporting structure 80.0nce the caps 24are inserted within the supporting structure 80, it is preferred thatthe receivers 22 be electrically connected in circuit parallel. However,should it be deemed advisable, the circuit could be wired as a seriescircuit.

As better illustrated in FIG. 2, the support 80 further includes anadditional or auxiliary support 81 upon which there is mounted aplurality of male connectors 82. Each connector 82 includes a positivepost $4 which terminates in a contact 86. The post is secured in placeby means of a suitable screw-threaded extension 88, threaded nut orconnector 90, which also serves to connect the post 84 with the circuit.The connector 82 further includes a negative strip 92 which extendselectrically to engage the negative strip 48 for completing the returnside of the circuit. As each of the male connectors 82 are of similardesign and construction, only a single connector is described in theinterest of brevity.

In order that each of the connectors 82 may be connected in parallel, apair of connector leads 94 are extended therebetween. As a practicalmatter, the male connectors may be connected at their negative strips byany suitable means, such as by soldering the leads 941 thereto, whilethe lead 94 which connects the positive post $4 may be provided withsuitable connectors which permit the nut to be screw-threaded and seatedin an electrical connection of well-known design.

Since the connectors 82 are connected in parallel it will be appreciatedthat the power pack may be plugged into any one of the receivers 22,while the remaining receivers may be provided with miniature lamps.Therefore, it should be fully appreciated that the circuit may beenergized from any one of the receivers 22 connected thereto.

It should be understood that the circuit herein described has utilityseparate and apart from an omamental lighting system. However, inpractice, the system is particularly suited for use in ornamentallighting for reasons hereinbefore discussed. In order to achieve thedesired eflect, it is often necessary to provide each lamp 42 with aminiature cover 96. The cover 96 preferably is formed of a flexiblepolyethylene material and is pigmented to the extent necessary toachieve the desired color when applied over the globe of a given lamp.Since it is intended that globes of the miniature lamps employed be ofdifierent sizes and different configurations, it is necessary that eachof the covers or tips 96 be of such desigi as to accommodate its usewith any one of the miniature lamps having globes of mutually exclusivesize and configuration. Therefore, the material from which the tip 96 isfabricated is preferably such as to be capable of withstanding elevatedtemperatures while retaining a desired degree of resiliency. A flexiblepolyethylene material has been found to be quite suitable for thispurpose. Since it is intended that the lamp 42, in its assembled state,represent a lighted candle, the tip 96 is preferably acurninate tosimulate the tip of a flame when rendered incandescent by anenergization of the filament of the lamp 42.

As can readily be appreciated, each tip 96, particularly the portionsthereof which extends above the top of an associated globe, when the tipis mounted, contains a limited quantity of air. Since a lamp tends togive up heat as it is energized, the air entrapped above the lampexpands as it is heated. This expansion has a tendency to cause the tipsto pop off the top of the globes. To overcome this, a plurality offlutes 98 have been incorporated along the internal surfaces of thetips. These flutes extends longitudinally from the base of the tip toits apex and serve as means for dispelling the air as it is heated sothat the pressure can be relieved and the tip 96 be permitted to remainin place. Furthermore, the flutes are sufficiently pronounced as toenhance the universatility of the tip. In other words, the flutes aredeep enough and are sufficient in number as to permit the material thatis included in the lands between the grooves to be deformed into thegrooves for thus increasing the effective diameter of the base as aglobe is forceably inserted into the tip.

Conversely, should the globe be sufiiciently small in diameter as not torequire a deformation of the lands, the material of the tip has a memorysufficient to permit the lands to remain erect and thus engage thesurfaces of the globe about which the tip is seated.

Where total flexibility is preferred, the supporting structure t -l maybe readily eliminated, so that the wires or leads 94 are permitted toserve as supports for the male connectors 82 as the candles are strunginto a desired and coupled relationship. While not shown, it is entirelyfeasible, to connect the post of each of the receivers 22 with one ofthe leads 94, while the other lead is connected with the strip 48. Thisconnection may be made in any suitable manner, such as by soldering, forexample. If the leads 94 are employed without the male connectors 82,increased flexibility may be realized. Therefore, while the maleconnectors 82 have been illustrated, it is entirely feasible to connectthe circuit components without requiring any rigid construction as maybe the case in the trimming of Christmas trees, floral wreaths and thelike.

While not a part of the present invention it should be readilyappreciated that each of the power packs l0,

with the male connectors fixed thereto, may be inserted into anelectrical battery charging circuit having a plurality of receivers 22connected therein. In this manner, each of the power packs 10 may bereadily stored when not in use and thus prepared or recharged for thenext use at a later date, all without requiring a removal of thebatteries and while achieving the recharging of batteries while they areretained within the casing 10.

in operation, it may be assumed that a plurality of the components havebeen assembled into a plurality of structures each including a truncatedfrusto-conical cap 2%, having mounted therein a receiver 22 into whichhas been seated a miniature lamp 42 encased in a flame-shaped tip 96.The structures are positioned in a manner dictated by decorators. Eachof the candle-like structures are supported in any suitable means suchas the rigid support 78 into which the caps 24 have been inserted.However, should it be desired, a simple clip can be applied to each ofthe structures in order to support the candle-like member or componentin operative position. The components are then connected, through leads94, in a parallel circuit arrangement. Into one of the receiverssupported by cap 24 is inserted the power pack 10. The male connector ofthe power pack engages the contact 62, while the negative contact of thepower pack engages the strip 48, so that a circuit is completed to thecandle-like components. Once the circuit has been completed, the battery17 applies the necessary voltage across each of the receivers 22 inorder to cause a miniature lamp 42 retained therein to become energizedand be rendered incandescent. Should it be desired to interchange any ofthe miniature lamps 42 with different lamps having different bases, suchis readily facilitated through the employment of the universalconnectors or receivers 22 without requiring a change of the particularreceiver employed for receiving the lamp.

In view of the foregoing, it should be readily apparent that asimplified circuit, having a plurality of interchangeable circuit andsystem components, has been provided which serve to enhance decorativeoperation and involved in creating displays having certain astheticvalue.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed hereinbut is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace anyand all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A universal female receiver adapted to receive a lamp base therein ofa type selected from a plurality of mutually exclusive types of lampbases comprising:

a. a resilient body including a cylindrical wall defining a tubular basereceiving portion into which the base of a miniature lamp is operativelyinserted;

. a transversally aligned closure portion closing one end of saidtubular portion;

. a conductor strip extending along the wall of the base receivingportion of the receiver through the closure portion and including afirst curved segment ex ending outwardly and into clamping engagementwith the opposing elongated surfaces of said wall and having a deformedsegment in engagement with the internal surface of the closure portionand a deformed segment in engagement with the exterior surface of saidclosure portion;

. an externally directed elongated electrical contact extendingconcentrically through the closure portion of the connector and havingfixed thereto a supporting shoulder for engaging the internal surface ofthe closure portion and an inwardly directed spring member adapted toreceivingly engage an electrical terminal inserted into said connector,whereby a circuit may be completed through the terminal between theconductor strip and the contact; and

. means defining elongated diametrically disposed slots extending alongtheinternal surfaces of said wall.

1. A universal female receiver adapted to receive a lamp base therein ofa type selected from a plurality of mutually exclusive types of lampbases comprising: a. a resilient body including a cylindrical walldefining a tubular base receiving portion into which the base of aminiature lamp is operatively inserted; b. a transversally alignedclosure portion closing one end of said tubular portion; c. a conductorstrip extending along the wall of the base receiving portion of thereceiver through the closure portion and including a first curvedsegment extEnding outwardly and into clamping engagement with theopposing elongated surfaces of said wall and having a deformed segmentin engagement with the internal surface of the closure portion and adeformed segment in engagement with the exterior surface of said closureportion; d. an externally directed elongated electrical contactextending concentrically through the closure portion of the connectorand having fixed thereto a supporting shoulder for engaging the internalsurface of the closure portion and an inwardly directed spring memberadapted to receivingly engage an electrical terminal inserted into saidconnector, whereby a circuit may be completed through the terminalbetween the conductor strip and the contact; and e. means definingelongated diametrically disposed slots extending along the internalsurfaces of said wall.